Fifth wheel construction



c. G. SEYFERTH FIFTH WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 20, 1935 PatentedDec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIFTH WHEEL CONSTRUCTIONApplication July 20, 1935, Serial No. 32,338

3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to fifth wheel construction, and hasmore particular reference to yieldable fifth wheel coupling meansbetween a tractor and a trailer vehicle. This application is for animprovement of the fifth wheel construction shown in United StatesLetters Patent No. 1,968,573 issued to me July 31,.

' A principal object of the invention is the provision of a fifth wheelconstruction embodying yieldable cushioning means interposed between theupper and lower fifth wheel elements, and disposed in spaced relationthereto, in which a secondary cushioning effect is obtainedhydraulically.

To obtain this novel effect, the spaced relationship between the onefifth wheel element and the yieldable or resilient cushioning means isprovided by means of airfilled recesses in the cushioning means, so thatduring relative movement between the fifth wheel elements, which ispermitted, cushioned and resisted by the cushioning means, the air inthese recesses is compressed to afford an additional cushioning effect.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the yieldableconnection between the upper and lower fifth wheel elements embodyingthe present invention, showing the several parts in assembled positionbefore the bottom retaining plate is secured in place;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, similar to Fig. 1, with the bottomretaining plate secured in position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on theline fl--t of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view similar to Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the resilient cushioning members.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, but one of a pair of bearingmembers, indicated generally by reference character I3, is shownjournaled on a cross shaft H2 which is supported transversely of thechassis of a tractor or the like (not shown). The relation of the crossshaft 12 and the bearing members Hi to the fifth wheel structure as awhole is illustrated in my above-mentioned Patent No. 1,968,573. andforms no part of the instant invention, which is clearly illustratedwith reference to one of the bearing members l3 and its associatedparts.

Each of the bearing members i3 is provided with an elongated portion,indicated generally at l4, which is mounted for floating or cushionedmovement between a pair of resilient cushioning members I5 removablycontained within a housing l6 formed integrally with the upper fifthwheel element Ill.

The housing it is provided with a removable bottom retaining wall itwhich may be secured thereto by means of bolts l9, and by means of whichaccess may be had to the interior of the housing in assembling the partsor for the purpose of replacement or repairs.

The elongated portion M of the bearing it extends longitudinally of thevehicle and is preferably cast with upper and lower longitudinallyextending rib portions 20 and 2!, respectively, horizontally extendingrib portions 22, and vertically extending end or buffer plates 23, thegeneral result being a casting of substantially cruciform cross-sectionas seen in Fig. 3.

The cushioning members iii are arranged one on each side of theelongated portion M and extend longitudinally thereof. "I'hese membersare preferably moulded of resilient material such as rubber or the like,and are provided with complementary recesses M on their inner facesconforming generally to the configuration of the elongated member it andadapted to receive and encase said elongated portion.

As shown in the drawing, each of the recesses M is provided with upperand lower longitudinally extending depressions or channels 25 and 2bwhich embrace the upper and lower ribs 20 and 2!], respectively, withthe side walls of the recesses abutting the sides of these ribs so as tolimit lateral shifting of the elongated portion M of the bearing itexcept so far as the natural resilience of the material will permit. Therecess M is also provided with a horizontal, longitudinally extendingslot or recess 21! which embraces the adjacent horizontal rib 22 of theelongated portion M.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, it will be noted that each of thecushioning members It is provided adjacent the slot 21 with recesses 28at intervals along its surface to provide a plurality of spacedabutments 29. The lower surface of the slot 21 is also formed withrecesses 3| to provide a pair of spaced abutments 32. In like manner,the ends of the recesses 24 are formed with recesses 33 to providecentrally disposed end abutments 34.

The several parts above-described are substantially the same as thecorresponding parts in my prior Patent No. 1,968,573, with three veryimportant differences. The recesses 28, 3| and 33, especially recesses28, are made somewhat larger in the instant device than in the patentedstructure. The blocks l5 are made larger than the housing l6, and uponassembling the several parts it will be noted (Fig. 1) that before thebottom retaining plate I8 is secured in place the blocks I5 protrudedownwardly at 35 beyond the housing IS an appreciable amount.

Before assembling the several parts, the inner faces of the cushioningblocks l5 are given a coating of rubber cement or other suitableadhesive. When positioned within the housing Hi, this coating ofadhesive material, indicated at 36 in Fig. 5, will have the efiect ofmaking an airtight seal between the two blocks l5.

After the parts are assembled within the housing l6, as shown in Fig. 1,the bottom retaining plate 18 is attached to the housing and drawn uptightly to the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of bolts l3. As this isdone, the cushioning blocks |5 are forced into intimate contact witheach other, the housing l6, and the elongated portion H of the bearingmember |3 at the points of contact with the latter of the pads orabutments 29, 32 and 34. This results in the sealing of the air intoeach of the several recesses 28, 3|, 33, and insuring against leakage ofair therefrom.

From the above description it will be apparent that any relativemovement between the two fifth wheel elements I! and I! will beeffectively cushioned and the shock thereof absorbed, not only by theresilient blocks I5 alone, but by the air entrapped within the severalrecesses therein provided. When such relative movement between thebearing member l3 and the blocks l5 occurs, the material of certain ofthe abutments 29, 32, 34 will be spread or flowed into the adjacentrecesses 28, 3|, 33, depending upon the direction of such relativemovement. This will result in a floating or cushioned movement betweenthe bearing and the blocks in which the shocks otherwise resulting instresses and strains in the several rigid parts will be absorbed by thecushioning members l5. In addition to the cushioning effect of theblocks l5, however, the resulting decrease in size of the constructionand arrangement of the parts witha out departing from the spirit andscope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages,the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodimentthereof.

I claim:

1. In a fifth wheel construction including upper and lower fifth wheelelements, the combination of a housing carried by one of said elements,a bearing member carried by the other of said elements and having aportion thereof disposed within said housing, and cushioning meansinterposed between said bearing member and said housing for yieldablyresisting relative movements between said bearing member and saidcushioning means, comprising means for obtaining a secondary cushioningeffect pneumatically.

2. In a fifth wheel construction including upper and lower fifth wheelelements, the combination of a housing carried by one of said elements,a bearing member carried by the other of said elements and having aportion thereof disposed within said housing, and cushioning meansinterposed between said bearing member and said housing for permittingfloating move- -ment between said bearing member and said cushioningmeans, said cushioning means having airtight recesses therein, and airentrapped within said recesses, whereby such floating movement willcompress the air in said recesses to produce a secondary cushioningeffect.

3. In a fifth wheel construction including upper and lower fifth wheelelements, the combination of a housing carried by one of said elements,a bearing member carried by the other of said elements and having aportion thereof disposed within said housing, and yieldable cushioningmeans interposed between said bearing member and said housing, saidcushioning means having air-filled recesses therein, whereby relativemovement between said bearing member and said cushioning means willdeform said cushioning means and compress the air in said recesses toafford an additional cushioning effect.

CARL G. SEYFERTH.

